Marvin Francois Memorial Fund

Please help us raise money in honor of remembering the life of Marvin Francois, age 50, father of four, avid photographer, who loved his family and his Jeep (seen in the photo). Marvin, a man who always made helping out anyone in his neighborhood/community a priority, was devastatingly killed Sunday evening while attempting to pick up a family member from a protest near the Country Club Plaza. 

Some thoughts that Marvin’s son (one of four), Jayden Francois, shared with us about his father:

My dad was an avid photographer that had taken thousands of pictures and was extraordinary at editing them. He admired learning regardless of the subject matter – culture, physics & astronomy, and all other fields of science. This passion for academics was imparted upon his children; he was thrilled they were afforded boundless opportunities. He loved his community and wanted to make sure everyone always felt safe. He cherished being with people no matter who they were, leading him to attend his children’s school events regardless if his own children were there too. He always stopped to help any neighbor or stranger if he suspected someone needed it. He always said that if he died tomorrow, he would have no regrets.

It is with a heavy heart as I write here that my father was shot and killed on Sunday evening, May 31st. Sunday morning my dad joined the community in peaceful protests and took beautiful photos of members of our community expressing their 1st amendment right to peacefully protest the ongoing issues our communities are facing. He returned home during the day and shared these photos at: https://www.facebook.com/MarvinFrancois

Later Sunday evening, our family discovered that one of our family members had yet to return home from the protests and we were unable to reach them by phone. My dad being the caring man that he was, took it upon himself to go help search for him and make sure this family member returned safely. When searching, a few individuals attempted to rob him and ultimately my dad ended up being shot three times before they fled the scene, leaving my dad to die. I am sad that he died but I feel comfort knowing that when he did, he was doing what he wanted to do: protecting and upholding everything he loved and believed in – family, friends, and community.

He often expressed how proud he was of his children and I can personally attest that he set us up with the skills to lead and protect our lives, families, and community in the same way that he did his whole life.

 

From our family to Jayden’s, we wanted to share our memories of Marvin Francois and express our heartfelt sympathy and support. We met Marvin through his son, Jayden, a recent A Bridge to the Stars Scholar. Jayden has touched the lives of many in our program beyond his excellence in the classroom. He gifted our family with many positive memories inside and outside the classroom. What stands out for us is Jayden bringing Marvin with him to class lectures and department group discussions. It was so obvious that Marvin loved to spend time with his son and loved learning all things Astronomy. He was the role model father, clearly engaged with Jayden’s interests and pursuits. Marvin Francois will be positively remembered by us all. At this moment, we wish we could tell Marvin how exceptional of a father he was in raising the thoughtful and bright son that Jayden Francois is, and the good man like his father that Jayden will become.

We hope these words help illustrate what a great man we found Marvin to be in the little time that his presence impacted us. As a result of these circumstances, the Francois family is just only beginning the process of planning memorial services and trying to manage other unforeseen expenses during this terribly difficult time. If you are at all able, we would be eternally grateful for any monetary donations to assist in helping the Francois family bear the future expenses directly and indirectly related to this tragedy. During this time, it is unimaginable to consider the stress and grief this wonderful family is undeservingly dealing with – in hopes to remove financial stress from this time of grief, we ask for your help if you have the means to do so.

If there are other ways you wish to help or contact the Francois family at this time, please contact: [email redacted] and we will pass along the message to the Francois family.

Please note: This Go Fund Me page is organized by individuals who wish to remain anonymous to focus on the Francois family at this time. Any funds that are received will be directly shared to the Francois family. No members of the A Bridge to the Stars team/family will have access to these funds outside of Jayden Francois and his mother Christi Francois. This fundraiser has not been endorsed by any related partners of the A Bridge to the Stars organization or network. It is solely organized directly from past and current members who have been directly involved with mentoring Jayden Francois, Marvin’s son.

Thank you for your thought and consideration.

Sincerely,

Anonymous members of the A Bridge to the Stars family